Fr. Steve’s updates

After I felt the first tufts of hair fall out, I went to the barber shop and got a good buzz cut – the kind dad used to give us to keep us cool in the heat of summer – no sense messing around.

I don’t know if the buzz was the best idea given our South Dakota winters, but there are plenty of knit caps around as the need arises!

Today, I got to read the winning essays for the Catholic Schools Week writing contest.

Students wrote how being at St. Joseph’s helps them develop faith, knowledge, discipline and morals. Their reflections reassured me we’re passing along some good values.

Because we accept students based on need rather than religion, many of our students come from other faith traditions, which we respect and work with. The four keys we stress – faith, knowledge, discipline and morals – will help anyone make their way through life regardless of tradition or denomination.

Tuesday is also one of my heavier meeting days.

There are so many day-to-day things to attend to while running a school. But, our work also requires planning and thinking ahead.

While there’s so much of the school year left, I just reviewed a draft of next year’s schedule. We also started planning for next year’s budget and discussed the timing for our home remodeling projects.

My stop at the campus print shop reminded me they too are working ahead … on our graduation mailing for May. As we adults look ahead and plan for the future, we also find it helpful this time of year to remind the children in our care of the long-term goals and prizes that will come with graduation if they faithfully study and learn along the way.

Personally, with this illness, keeping my eyes on the long-term goals helps me get through the daily struggles, too.

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Author: St. Joseph's Indian School

At St. Joseph's Indian School, our privately-funded programs for Lakota (Sioux) children in need have evolved over 90 years of family partnership, experience and education. Because of generous friends who share tax-deductible donations, Native American youth receive a safe, stable home life; individual counseling and guidance; carefully planned curriculum based on Lakota culture and individual student needs and tools to help build confidence, boost self-esteem and improve cultural awareness. All of this helps children to live a bright, productive, possibility-filled future.
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8 thoughts on “Fr. Steve’s updates”

Father Steve
Glad your keeping so busy and enjoying it. We pray for you everyday!! I know it’s cold there, more so than Pennsylvania! You are given the kids such good counsel, and you can never go wrong in doing that. My grandfather gave me a mohawk haircut when i was a kid, and my Dad, use to put a bowl on our heads and cut our hair around it. Ha! so, i know what your talking about. well, you get well, and remember we think and appreciate all you do. God Bless Mike and kathy Clapper

JMJ / MMM 3Feb 2010
Dear Father Steve —
A little prayer at the beginning (Jesus Mary Joseph / Mary My Mother) for you.
It is wonderful that St Joseph’s school accepts on need including other beliefs. Praise be to Pope St John XXIII! The Church has grown CENTURIES in a short time because of him.
I wish for you, Fr Steve, that you very often can actually FEEL God’s Presence with you. From the beginning God gives each and all of us ALL — but we are unable to receive because we don’t know, don’t understand. But over the years we sure do grow until God helps us give ALL to Him in a most intimate sharing.
I wish smiles and sunshine for you along your road. John (and Kathleen)

Father Steve, we were greatly saddened to learn of your cancer. We are saying prayers for you all the way up here in Alaska. We learned to know you during our six years at Fort Thompson and have the greatest respect for you. We can’t think of anyone better for the job at St. Joe’s than you! We appreciate your sharing your journey with us so that we can walk along beside you. With love,
Curt and Willie Wood, Metlakatla, Alaska.

Fr Steve – So glad that you are keeping us updated on this site. We think about you often and keep you in our prayers. Reed had a game last night at Gregory and we won, he had a great game 16 points! He is getting close to making his college decision I will let you know who it is going to be. Take care and keep your chin up
God Bless
Marlene, Mike, Drew and Reed

Fr. Steve,
My wife and I are scheduled to attend the luncheon in Naples on Saturday, 6 February. We just learned today of your illness and you can be sure that you will be in our prayers. We will still attend the luncheon (about a 3+ hour drive from our home in Port St Lucie, FL) and we certainly understand that you will not be able to travel. So, take good care of yourself, listen to the doctors, and remember that you will be in our thoughts and prayers. Kind regards, Paul & Charlotte Cornelius

Dear Father Steve,
God’s love be with you always. You have lighted a pathway for me that you will never know. You are a true Saint and my hero. May God bless you and your work with the children.
In my prayers always,
Alan Todd

It is because we reside within the sacred circle that things must come and pass. It is why we must ever embrace now. We may never know exactly how much now we actually have, until it has indeed come to pass.
Even though the future must ever be looked to, please don’t forget your nows, Fr. Steve. They are what make today’s, tommorrows, and yesterday’s, and the subsequent memories that come with them.
And may all your days have memories of smiles, laughter, and tears of joy. Days of self-doubt defeated by inherent faith and joy in that faith. Days of enlightment and peace of soul.
My recommendation to you is simple. Find a Shaman that You have faith in, and combine your faiths in a healing ceremony- after all, there are many similarities between the two, this shouldn’t be too big of a stretch for two Holy Men to embrace each other for a healing ceremony. Go to the sweat lodge, father. There you will find your healing and peace. This is what the spirits say to me. And it is very direct, very strong.
I implore you to explore this possibility- it is your time to show faith, by example. It is your time to show faith by rote, by consequence. To show it’s inevitability in all things.